Fence-clamp.



M. MQGARTER.

FENCE CLAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED 111411.23. 1914.

1, 1 09, 1 72. Patented Sept. '1, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHDNLITHQ, WISHINGTON. D C

' clamp.

UNITED sT TEs PATENT OFFICE. 5

MILTON MCCARTE on oorirAxi vnm vA.

FENCE-CLAMP,

7 i 1 Application filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,692.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON MOGARTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Colfax, in the county of Clinton and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful F ence-Clamp, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention appertains to fence clamps, and aims to provide anovel and improved contrivance of that nature. 7

It is'the object of the present invention to provide a wire'fence clampof unique construction, whereby the same may bereadlly applied to andremoved from the longitudinal'strands of awire fence. I

The present invention contemplates the provision of a wire fence clampembodylng a series of peculiar" cooperating jaws for receiving the fencewires or strands 1n a ready and efiecti'vemanner, novel means beingprovided for moving the aws mto and out of clamping relation.

It is also within the scope of the present invention, toprovide a wirefence clamp, which will be improved generally 1n constructionp wherebythe utility of the device will be enhanced,whereby the structure Wlll becomparatively simple and inexpensive, as well as convenient, practical,servlceableand eflicient in its use.

l/Viththe foregoing and other objects in View whichwill appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes vin'the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed: without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, wherein a Figure 1 is a front vlew of the improvedfence clamp, portions being-broken away.

Fig. 2 is a back view of the clamp,portions being broken away. Figs.i3and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and H respectively, ofFig. 2. Fig. 5 is as de elevation of the upper end portion of .1 the Incarrying out the present invention, thereis provided a frame, which ispreferably'in the form of a casing, andwh1chcomprises parallel bars 1,having spaced transverse webs or cross members 2 connectingSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented se tj 1, 1914.

certain edges thereof. The frame or castingis of channel shape, certalnportions of the back ofthe' channel being cut away, to

provide the spaced webs or cross pieces 2. The edges of the Webs 2 arepreferably cut or molded on sinuous or tortuous lines to providegripping jaws, it being noted that both edgesof the'webs 2 intermediatethe upper and lower webs, are formed to provide jaws. Theclamp furtherincludes a second main part or element,'in the form of a channel bar 3,which is slidably disposed between the bars 1 of the frame with its backresting against the inner sides or faces.

of the webs 2. The back of the channel bar or part 3-is formed withtransverse'ribsor lugs 4, which are disposed between the webs or jawmembers 2. The channel member 3 is preferably. in the form of a castingand the edges ofthe ribs or lugs 4 are cut-or molded :on sinuous linescorresponding or matching with theedges or jaw portions of the webs2uBoth edgesof each rib 4 are sinuous or tortuous to provide opposed jawscooperable with the adjacent jaws of the adjacent web's, whereby thejaws of the webs andthe-ribs may be made to cooperate upon both theupward and "downward movements ofthe channel member or slide 3 withrespect-to the'frameQ The channel member or slide 3 is maintained inplace within the frame, by means of a retaining plate 5 secured, bymeans of screws or otherwise, to the free edges of the barsliintermediate' the ends of the said bars, and engaging the free edgesof the flanges of the channel member 8. It is evident thatthe plate orretaining member 5 holds the channel member 'or slide 3 snugly withinthe frame, but permitsthe channel member to be readily slidlongitudinally with respect to the frame. A cap 6 fits over. the upperend of the frame, or the bars 1 thereof, the cap 6 being divided fromoneside o-f the frame, to theother, to provide twosections 7, the sectionsbeing secured to the upper ends of the bars 1,-by means contacting withthe upper and lower faces of the cap 6, to permit the screw to rotate,and to prevent its longitudinal move portion of the channel member 3being provided with a solid portion 13 between its flanges, whichportion 1-5v is provided with a. longitudinal bore 14 loosely receivingthe threaded portion of the screw 10. The solid portion 13 of thechannel member 3 is also provided with a transverse rearwardly openingsocket or recess 15 in which is snugly fitted a. nut 16 through whichthe screw 10 is threaded. The nut 16 is held non-rota tably within thesocket or recess 15, and in stretching mechanism, which may be of anysuitable character, a pair of openor slotted links 17 are slidablethrough slots 18 formed in the side bars 1, and complementing slots 19formed in the flanges of the channel member 8. The slots 19 areelongated in order to enable the channel member 3 to be movedlongitudinally, without interference. The links 17 are disposedtransversely of the clamp and arranged adjacent the ends thereof, theends of the links protruding beyond the bars 1, and the links beingprovided with bulged or enlarged portions 20 adjacent certain ends,while retaining rings or elements 21 are engaged through the other endsof the links. The rings 21 are arranged to strike or seat against thecorresponding side bar 1, to lock the links against withdrawal, when thechain sections 22 are engaged to the other ends of the links so as toenable the clamp to be connected to the stretching mechanism. The chainsections 22 may be readily passed through the bulged or enlargedportions 20 of the links, whereby when the chain sections are tightened,the links may be locked with the corresponding end portions of thelinks, as "seen in Figs. 1 and 4, to thereby effectively connect thechain sections with the clamp. It is obvious that the chains .22 may bereadily applied'to and disengaged from the links 17, and may be adjustedreadily with respect to the links. It is also apparent that when thechains 22 are disengaged from the links 17, the links may bewithdrawnfrom the slots 18 and 19, and may be reversed, if desired. Theenlarged'or bulged portions 20 ing the upper and lower strands of a'wirethe l and sidesof thebars 1, and a pair of cross .bars or jaws 26 havingtheir ends loosely Of the links are arranged to snap through the slots18 of the bars 1 and therefore, when the links are applied, the bulgedportions 20 will normally prevent the withdrawal of the links, unlessthe links are forcibly extracted from the clamp 3.

As a matter of further improvement, the clamp is provided with upper andlower clamps 23 and 24:, respectively, for clampfence, which are usuallyof larger gage than the intermediate strands or wire. The

upper clamp 23 is adjustable, and comprises a U-shaped bolt 25straddling the rear edges embracing or. engaging the end portions of thebolt Nuts 27 are threaded upon the ends of the bolt 25 to clamp the jawsv26 together, and to clamp the frame between the bolt 25 and the jaws26, It is evident that when the nuts 27 are loosened, the clamp 23 maybe adjusted longitudinally upon the upper end portion of the frame, andwhen the nuts are tightened, the clamp 23 will be locked in its adjustedposition, and the jaws or clamping bars 26 will be clamped together. Thelower clamp 24 is stationary, inasmuch asthe lower strand or wire of thefence can in all cases be accommodated thereby; the lower clamp 24embodying a clamping plate'or jaw 28 ccoperating with the lowerweb 2 ofthe frame and adapted to be clampedthereagainst by a bolt 29 engagedthrough the lower end 100 portion of the frame and the clamping plate orjaw 28. 1 i

In the use of the present clamp, the fence wires or strands 80 may bereadily applied thereto by simply rotating the screw 10 105 properly,through the medium of a wrench or other suitable implement, so that thejaws a will be spaced from the aws 2, which will enable the strands orwires to be readily placed between the respective jaws. 10

In practice, it is-preferable to provide the clamp with a suflicientnumber of cooperating jaws 2 and 4, to enable the clamp to accommodatevarious woven wire fences.

Then, by rotating the screw 10 properly, 115

thejaws 2 and 4 may be brought into mutual gripping relation, to tightlygrip the wires 30 between the sinuous or tortuous faces of the jaws,whereby when the clamp is drawn, orpulled through the medium of 120 thestretching mechanism (not shown) at tached to the-chains 22, there willbe no liability of the wires 30 pulling loose, even though the clamp issubjected to severe strains when long and heavy fences are be- 125 ordownwardly, to, bring the-jaws 2 and 4 130 into gripping relation, itbeing noted that both the upper and lower edges of the said ]LW,S areprovided with cooperating jaw faces. The operative connect-ion of thescrew 10 with the upper end of the frame and with the upper end of thechannel or slide 3 thus enables the said channel member or slide to beactuated in both directions.

l/Vhen the upper and lower wires or strands of the fence are of largergage than the intermediate wires or strands, the clamps 23 and 24: maybe employed for gripping the same. Thus, the lower wire or strand 31 maybe clamped or gripped between the r lower end portion of the clamp frameof the clamp plate 28 as clearly suggested in Fig. 1, while the upperwire or strand 32 may be readily clamped between the edge portions ofthe clamping or jaw bars 26 after the nuts 27 have been loosened, and radvantages of the present device will be obvious to those versed in theart without further comment being necessary, it being noted that theobjects aimed at have been carried out satisfactorily by the provisionof the structure herein disclosed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 2- 1. Ina clamping device, a channel-shaped bar having its back cut away toprovide spaced webs, a second channel-shaped barfitted within theaforesaid bar with its back resting against the said. webs, the back ofthe second bar being providedv with transverse ribs between andcooperable with the I said webs, means carried by the flanges of thefirst bar and engaging the flanges of the second bar to hold the secondbar slidably within the first bar, and actuating. means connectingcertain ends of thebars for sliding the second bar.

2. In a clamping device, a frame'having' a series of jaws, aslid'ecarried by the frame and having a series ofjaws cooperable with theaforesaid jaws, means connecting the frame and slide for actuating thelatter, and an adjustable clamp mounted upon one end portion of theframe, the adjustable clamp including a U-shaped bolt straddling theframe, cooperable clamp bars mounted upon theend portions of the saidbolt, and

nuts threaded upon the ends of the bolt.

3. In a clamping device, a frame having a series of jaws, a slidemounted within the frame and havingjaws cooperablewith the aforesaidjaws, a cap mounted upon one end of the frame, a screw j ournaledthrough the cap and having means for engaging the cap to prevent thelongitudinal movement of the screw, and a nut portion carriedby one endof the slide and threadedly receiv ing the said screw. g

4:. In a clamplng device, a. frame having transverse slots, clampingmeans carried by the frame, open links fitting througlrthe ,said slots,each link having a bulged 'por tion adjacent one end forthe passage ofchain links therethrough to engage within the said end, andretaininglmeans carried by j i I the other ends of the links andseatable against the frame. I v I In testimony that I claim theforegoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy'signature in the presenceof twowitnesses. v MILTON MCCARTER.

Witnesses: V I

BASIL C. HORNER, J ALVA MCCARTER.

pi Of this P y be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fCommissioner of Patents, i

Washington, D. C.

